Dr. Julian Langford

Julian Langford is a cellist who brings intense passion to every performance he gives, whether it involves solo repertoire, chamber music, or performing as the principal cellist in an orchestra. 

Julian has performed in major concert halls such as Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher/David Geffen Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia, Bruno Walter Auditorium in Lincoln Center, the Tenri Cultural Institute, and the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City, among others. He has also performed multiple concertos such as the Elgar Cello Concerto with the Bergen Philharmonic and the first Shostakovich Cello Concerto with the Chappaqua Orchestra. In 2008, Julian performed the Schubert Two Cello Quintet with world renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma at the Waldorf-Astoria in New York City, and was invited to be a guest artist with him and the Silk Road Ensemble on PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center program. In 2018, Julian went on tour in China, where he performed and taught master classes at multiple venues: Shanghai, Shenzhen, Hangzhou and Beijing. In 2019, Julian went on tour in Korea, where he performed as part of the New York Classical Players Korea tour and played at the Lotte Concert Hall in Seoul, the Samcheok Cultural Arts Center, and the Daegu Concert House. 

Chamber music has been a staple of Julian’s performing career. He performed the Weber Clarinet Quintet with internationally acclaimed clarinetist Charles Neidich at the Tenri Cultural Institute, and also played with the esteemed Emerson String Quartet at the Staller Center Recital Hall. Julian has also formed several professional chamber music groups as well. He was a founding member of the New York Trio, a piano trio mentored by Grammy Award-winning composer Robert Aldridge, and performed in Washington D.C., Connecticut, and upstate New York. The New York Trio also collaborated with Broadway singer Frank D’Ambrosio in their performances. Additionally, Julian was a founding member and cellist of the Anello String Quartet, and was mentored by the Emerson String Quartet and the Juilliard String Quartet in New York. The Anello Quartet performed in the “Alarm Might Sound” concert series in Olivebridge, NY and was invited to give a concert at the Canadian Consulate in New York. 

As an orchestral musician, Julian has performed as principal cellist in the True North Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall, the New York Classical Players, the Chappaqua Orchestra, the Aspen Music Festival and School, and the Tanglewood Young Artist’s Orchestra. He was also selected as principal cellist for the Stony Brook Symphony Orchestra in its first ever Orpheus-style orchestra cycle without a conductor. 

Julian was awarded first place in the Young Classical Virtuosos of Tomorrow Competition and performed in the Kimmel Center as part of his award. He was the grand prizewinner of the Chappaqua Orchestra Concerto Competition, as well as several other competitions, including the Pearl and Julius Young Music Competition and the Coeur d’Alene Symphony Young Artists Competition.

As a student at the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division, Julian studied with renowned cellist of the legendary Guarneri String Quartet, David Soyer, who greatly influenced Julian’s artistic approach. Julian received both his bachelor’s and master’s degree in music from The Juilliard School, studying with Richard Aaron. He received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Stony Brook University under the tutelage of Colin Carr. From 2022-2026, Julian was a member of the cello faculty at the Xi’an Conservatory of Music in China, and is currently a member of the cello faculty at Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.